A review by readingthroughthelists
Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth: Her Stories and Hymns from Sumer by Enheduanna, Samuel Noah Kramer, Diane Wolkstein

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

This is my second semester teaching World Mythology, meaning it’s finally time for me to make the acquaintance of such classics as Inanna and the Epic of Gilgamesh. 

Despite the fact that these stories are nearly 5000 years old (let that sink in for a moment), I found the tales of Inanna to be powerful and relevant, with their focus on female power, sexuality, and empowerment. The evolving relationship between Inanna and Dumuzi is particularly interesting, and I loved the entire sequence of the Descent of Inanna to the underworld. 

However, I hope to continue my studies on Inanna with newer and more updated scholarship. This edition is from 1983, and it shows. Wolkstein’s commentary is more poetic than academic and her insistence that everything is really a metaphor for sex feels dated. 

5 stars for content, 3 for scholarship = 4 stars.